Soeharto invited to UN population meet

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto, recipient of various international awards for his success in bringing Indonesia's population growth under control, has been invited to address the United Nation's conference on population in Cairo this September.

Minister of Population Haryono Suyono said yesterday that the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), which is organizing the conference, has asked President Soeharto to speak in his capacity as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Soeharto has tentatively agreed, Haryono said yesterday during a meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission VIII which deals with population.

Haryono said that UNFPA executive director Nafis Sadik, during a recent meeting in New York, told him that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will send a formal invitation to Soeharto to address the International Conference on Population and Development.

Thirteen other heads of states have been invited, including from the leaders of the United States, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Niger and Norway.

Indonesia, which is involved in the preparatory meetings for the conference, has been pushing for its own population concepts.

Haryono said Indonesia's concept of family has attracted the attention of Pope John Paul II, who sent a letter to Soeharto, asking him to elaborate further in his speech in Cairo.

The minister said the choice of Soeharto could not be separated from his success in bringing population growth in Indonesia under control.

In 1989 Soeharto received the UN Population Award for Indonesia's success in lowering its fertility and infant mortality rates during his leadership.

Haryono said UNFPA has ranked Indonesia among the world's centers of excellence on population control, along with Thailand, Mexico and Tunisia.

During yesterday's hearing, the minister also disclosed the government's plan to set up a national commission dealing with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

The commission will be set up by a presidential decree that will probably be issued this week, he said. (11)